Professor H. V. J. Fernando – A tribute

Abstract

On 1 April 1919 a child was born to wealthy parents, Henry Domingo Fernando and Vivienne Muriel Fernando (nee de Mel), who was destined to become an intelligent doctor, a great academic, a teacher par excellence, a true friend, a faithful colleague and a great humanist. He was named Hubert Vernon Jerrold. He was a brilliant student at Royal College, Colombo and entered the University College, Colombo, in 1937 and the Medical College of the University of Ceylon in 1938. In 1943, he passed MBBS (Ceylon) with Second Class Honours. From 1943 to 1947 he worked as a medical officer in the Department of Health Services serving as a House Officer to the Professor of Medicine and in the Department of Pathology. He then worked at the Medical Research Institute, Colombo and as a pathologist in the Civil Hospital, Kandy. He resigned from this post in July 1947 to proceed to the United Kingdom to pursue higher studies. Dr. Fernando could not enter the MD programme in the UK without a primary British medical degree. Therefore, to obtain MBBS of the University of London, he was attached for two years to the School of Medicine, University of Leeds, as an External Student. During this period he also worked part time with Professor Matthew Stewart, Professor of Pathology of the University. He passed M.B.B.S. (London) with ease in 1949 and was appointed as Demonstrator in the Department of Pathology of the King’s College Hospital Medical School, London. He took part in the routine work of the Department and the teaching. In June 1952, he obtained MD (London) in Pathology with Morbid Anatomy as his special subject. After his MD, he worked with Dr. Keith Simpson, then a Home Office Pathologist and a Reader in Forensic Medicine, at Guy’s Hospital Medical School, University of London. He also spent some time in the Biological Laboratories of Scotland Yard learning their crime investigating techniques. After returning to Ceylon in October 1952, he joined as a Pathologist of the Colombo Group of Hospitals. On 13 February 1953 after Dr. Fernando’s selection to the University of Colombo, Professor G.S.W. de Saram, the first Professor of Forensic Medicine, wrote to the University stating that “Dr. Fernando be appointed on the maximum salary of a Grade 2 Lecturer and be stepped up to Grade 1 a year later, because he has obtained the highest degree in his specialty and has also acquired practical knowledge of medico-legal work under Dr. Keith Simpson who is one of the leading consultants to Scotland Yard. Dr. Simpson’s high opinion of Dr. Fernando has already been submitted to the Selection Committee”. On 4 March 1953 Sir A p p re catio n m